Convertible baby seat



Sept. 13,1927.

F. A. ABRAHAM CONVERTIBLE BABY SEAT Filed July 13, 1926 i Patented Sept. 1 3, 1927.

iilalTlaD STATES FRED A. ABRAHAM, OF MARTINSVILLE, INDIANA.

Loo'ivviirvriianr.: BABY SEAT. i

Application ledJ'uly 13, 1926. Serial No.'122,18`2. l y

The kobject of this` invention is to provide a simple structure which is convertible into either a high-chair especially f or use at table, or a nursery-chair, or a swing, as .occasion may demand, the construction being inexpensive and' strong and such that the yseat may be folded into an exceedingly compact condition for convenience in handling, packing and transportation, as more fully hereinafter set forth. y

v This application is a continuation in part of myc-o-pending application Serial No. 11,- 289, filed February 24, 1925.

In the drawing- Fig. y1 is a perspective view of the seat adjusted for use as a high-chair;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the seat adjust-ed for use asfa nursery-seat;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the seat ad- 20.r justed for use as a swing;

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are detail views hereinafter more particularly described.

Referring to the' drawings annexed byV reference-characters,10 designates the cenf tral or main vframe which consists of a heavy, stiff wire bent into rectangular form. This rectangular wire-frame hasstretched across it the nursery-seat fabric 11, this fabric being connected to the four frame-bars by hems 12.

A back-frame fabric 16 is attached to the rear bar of the seat-frame through the mediuni of a stiff, rectangular wire-framey 17 whose vertical side rods are pivotally connected to said rear bar of the seat-frame by means of eyes 18 formed on the lower end of said vertical rods. The fabric is attached to the back-frame by suitable hems 16 formed in the edges of the substantially purpose. The eyes 18 enable the back member to be folded down fiat over the seat member. s,

Another frame consisting of a rectangular piece of fabric 19 hemmed to a rectangular wire-frame 20 is pivotally connected to the front bar of the seat-frame byeyes 21. f This stiff front frame is adapted to be swung over upon-the seat-frame and reinforce the Vsaine when the appliance is used as a chair or a swing, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. When the appliance is to be used as a nurseryseat, this front panel or frame is swung over forwardly and allowed to hang freely. IVhen the 'appliance is used on a chair of the rectangular piece of fabric used for thisl proportions shown in 2,-tliis depending i front frame will serve as a leg-restand as a guard. For the purpose of hanging the appliance in proper position for use as a highcliair or as a nursery-seat, I provide the back frame with a pair of hooks 22v which 'are pivotally connected to the top bar of the back-frame sok as to adapt'them to be hung over the top bar of a dinner chair, as shown in Figs. 1 and2. When thus hung over the back of aV chair, the seat will be suspended at a. desirable distance above the seat of the chair. as illustratedl y Fabric suspension tape-members 23 are employed toserve ass'ide-guards and also to hold the seat-member in proper relation to the back-member. These suspension tapes or members connect the two upper corners ofthe back-frame to the two front corners of the seat-frame; for convenience in connecti'ngV these tapes :to their respective frames, I form the side-bars of the two frames into eyes 24. For the holding the childr in the seat, I provide a body-band 25 which is attached to the fabric of the back-frame and extends around in front of the suspension members 23 so as to pass under the arms of the baby. For the purpose of disconnecting this body-band 25,

purpose of I sever it lat one point and provide one end with a series of button-holes 26 and the y other end with a button 27. The two parts of this body-band are respectively stitched to the side guard tapes 23. To keep the child from slipping outforwardly off the front edge of the seat, I provide a central strap'28 which is slidably attached to the body-band 25 at its upper end (by means of aloop vformed on the upper end of said strap 28) and detachably attached to the front edge of the seat-frame by means of a button arrangement 29. This central strap 28 is positioned to lie between the klegs of the baby and therefore will, together with the `body-strap 25 and the suspension members 23,y hold the child safely inthe seat, preventing it wriggling off the'seat in any direction. y v

When not in use, it will be seen that the threepanels or frames may be readily folded over on each other to make a very compact article. The straps 23, 25 and 28 are of flexible fabric and may be disposed of in any suitable way; for instance, they may be folded between the frame members.

Then the appliance is used as a swing, as shown in Fig. 3, the chair-hooks Q2 are out oi use and instead four suspending tapes l0 are used, each one of these being` provided with a snap-hook 31 at its lower end tor detachable attachment to the suspension loops 2l. The tapes at their upper ends may be supplied with similar snap-hooks or other means (not shown) for suspending them from an overhead structure. These .suspending members 30 are desirably made ot fabric similar to the other fabric members.` so that they may be readily placed between the .tranie-members in packing or placed in the container in which the folded appliance is enclosed. To keep the seat, `when thus used as a swingseat, from tilting;r forwardly, I tie the front tapes 30 to the top ott the back-trame by means of rigid brace1'ods 3Q which are each desirahly covered with a rubber tube. These bracerods are held removably in place by having their rear ends bent. laterally at so as to be insertable in the top hem 1G' of the back-iframe, and their forward ends are provided respectively with a downward bend Sei adapted for insertion in a fabric tube 3.3 iormed in the front tapes f3() by folding over the tape and stitchingr it. This construction enables these brace-rods to be readily placed in position and removed therefrom. and, when in position, they ectfectively hold up the front edge ot the seat and thus prevent the child Afrom beine' tilted into an uncomfortable gosition.

The front edge of the fabric 19 is provided with an extension-flap 36 which, when this fabric 19 lies over the main seat` 'folds down over the front bars of the main seat and thus forms a finish or valance along' the open side of the wire frame 19 and thus nicely disposes ot the raw edge of the fabric that would otherwise be presented by the front edge ol the seat. This flap 3G i's termed by providing the edge of the fabric A with a wide hem.

It will be observed that a 'feature ot importance is the still frame 2O covered by the taut fabric 19 and pivotally mounted on the front bar ot the seat-trame. This stili' trame, as will be observed. is a little narrower than the seat-frame, so that it may be readily swung over upon the top surface oi the fabric of the seat-frame and will lie closely thereagainst. By makingr this il'ranie 2li-19 in this manner, it is unnecessary to provide fastening devices for clamping' it down on the seat-trame, while at the same time this swinging trame serves to provide a substantial `closed `seat in eonnection with `the nursery-seat 1l.

A further feature ot in'iportance is the provision of a closed eye 2li at cach oi' the upper corners ol the back-trame and a si1nilar eye at each of' the front corners olE the seat-frame, whereby these eyes may be utilized as connections for the guard suspension-straps 2&5 and also for the swing-straps i110, these latter being; detachably connected to the eyes by means ol' snap-hooks 31. In this way, l provide a simple construction lor readily converting;l the :folding chair into a swing.

In all the ligures except Fig. G, the iront eyes 24, are shown as lying in a horizontal position, projecting' laterally from `the seatrame; this the best arrangement of these eyes, as they are thereby grotten out of the way of Vthe child and at the saine time give the widest possible distance between the two straps Q23. These eyes, however, may be arranged in vertical position, as shown in Fie. G, without departing from my invention.

It will be seen by an inspection of Fig. l that, when the still seatlrame 19-20 is folded over upon the main seat, its wire iframe liesI within the wire trame of the seat proper, thereby condncinp` materially to eoinpactness when the device is folded up 'for packinel or transmission.

What I claim as new is:

l. A babyseat and swing embodying: a seat-member and a back-member hinged tos gether, flexible suspension-members attached respectively to the upper corners of the back-trame and the 'front corners o'll the seat-frame, and remi table brace-rods pivotally and detaehably connected at their rear ends to the top ot the haelt-trame, the axis of the )ivots being horizontal and at their lorware ends to the tront suspension-1nem bers.

Q. A baby-seat and swing' embodying a seat-member and a back-member hinged tonether` flexible suspens-ion-nien1bers attached respectively to the upper corners o'l the backi'raine and the tront corners of the seatitframe, and removable brace-rods connected at their rear ends to the top oi' the backfranie and at their forward ends to the front suspension-members, said brace-rods being provided with bent ends adapted at the rear to enter a hem at the top of the back-:trame and at their forward ends to enter tubes in the front suspension-members.

In testimony whereoi I hereunto adir; my

signature.

FRED A. ABRAHAM; 

